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When Wherever You Go, There You Are was first published in 1994, no one could have predicted that the book would launch itself onto bestseller lists nationwide and sell over 750,000 copies to date. Ten years later, the book continues to change lives. In honor of the book's 10th anniversary, Hyperion is proud to be releasing the book with a new afterword by the author, and to share this wonderful book with an even larger audience.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In his follow-up to Full Catastrophe Living--a book in which he presented basic meditation techniques as a way of reducing stress and healing from illness--here Jon Kabat-Zinn goes much more deeply into the practice of meditation for its own sake. To Kabat-Zinn, meditation is important because it brings about a state of "mindfulness," a condition of "being" rather than "doing" during which you pay attention to the moment rather than the past, the future, or the multitudinous distractions of modern life. In brief, rather poetic chapters, he describes different meditative practices and what they can do for the practitioner. The idea that meditation is "spiritual" is often confusing to people, Kabat-Zinn writes; he prefers to think of it as what you might call a workout for your consciousness. This book makes learning meditation remarkably easy (although practicing it is not). But it also makes it seem infinitely appealing. --Ben Kallen
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Kabat-Zinn ( Full Catastrophe Living ), founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, here urges readers to practice "mindfulness," a more than 2000-year-old Buddhist method of living fully in the present, observing ourselves, our feeling, others and our surroundings without judging them. Free of trendiness, the book presents meditation as a natural activity that can be practiced anytime and anywhere, without props or trappings. Kabat-Zinn explains how to live in the moment by taking up such techniques as "non-doing," trust and concentration. He shows readers meditation postures and ways to meditate, including visualizing mountains and lakes, and concentrating on walking or standing. Amusing anecdotes illustrate applications of mindfulness in everyday life, including "Cleaning the Stove While Listening to Bobby McFerrin," "Cat Food Lessons" and two chapters on parenting as a form of meditation (children as "live-in Zen masters"). This warm, witty and wise guide should bring relaxation to stressed-out people. Author tour. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Top customer reviews

Jon Kabat-Zinn's book Wherever You Go, There You Are is about mindfulness. According to the author, "Mindfulness means paying attention [to the world] in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." That sentence seems a little obscure, and whenever I've attempted to explain mindfulness or meditation to friends, it's as though I can never make myself clear and they still walk away thinking it's all hokum. In spite of my inability to make it totally clear by definition, maybe I could illustrate it using some examples that Kabat-Zinn would probably approve of.

Take any given moment your in. I take it that you're sitting down somewhere right now reading this review. Focus on your breath. Notice how unaware of your own breathing you were before. Now, while reading this, expand the focus from your breath to the sensation of your body, your bottom against your seat perhaps, or the way the tip of your nose might feel cold or hot. Further expand the field of awareness to the sounds around you. Maybe you hear noise from other people. Maybe you hear nothing except the sound of your own breathing.

Project this mode of being aware into another setting. Perhaps you're at work, and someone is telling you how to do something. You might feel seeds of resentment growing inside you, asking the question in your mind how it is this person has the gall to tell you how do so something. You might feel personally attacked, a little nervous, your breath unsteady. Be aware of these sensations. Don't fight against them. But also listen to what the person says, as much as possible, without judgment. Is what this person is saying really a personal attack? Probably not. And if it is, does it really matter? Does he or she have control of your mind such that he could actually make you feel one way or another? Not if you choose to respond to it in a peaceful, proactive way and just take it for what it is, without judgment.

Maybe the above two paragraphs don't do it for you. Or maybe they do. The important thing is that mindfulness is about being aware and awake, and about choosing to make peace with the way you feel and the way you interact with the world. If you want to, you can always feel swept around by the winds of desire, or pulled around by anger or intense emotion as though there were a brass ring in your nose. Those are always options. But it's also another option to choose to practice inner tranquility. This is what this book is about.

I had this audiobook when it first was published. Turned me into an instant Jon Kabat-Zinn fan! It was time to read it again because the input is so beneficial to general everyday thinking. I also have his Mindful Mobile Apps JKZ Series 1 and 2 and also just finished Full Catastrophe Living... the revised (2013) version. Can't say enough about how well he teaches - in such a practical and easy to follow approach. He is brilliant in my opinion. If you wish to turn down the noise in your life - his teachings will help.

Nothing I write will change anything. Prof. Kabat-Zinn has had such an amazing influence over my life and work. He, unknowingly, has made me change work and become a metaphysical therapist and use his ideas on a daily basis. How wonderfully simple his writing is. A real gem. It takes authentic genius to write about such advanced ideas in simple, practical terms.....much harder than to get lost in professional lingo. Go ahead. Just read it.

This was added to what I've termed a core "library" that I've given each of my children as they go off to college. They may not read it this week or this year, but someday it might provide valuable support as it did when I was very stressed and has continues to as I've better managed.

This book has changed my life. I began reading this book after a particularly difficulty time period. I lost a baby at 21 weeks. This book helped me heal and remember to be present in this moment. What has happned has happend, what will happen hasn't, what is now is the thing to focus on....a powerful book. I now have a consisent meditation practice thanks to this book.